Washing machine driver

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a washing machine driver, comprising an electric motor, a washing axle ( 51 ), a dehydration axle sleeve ( 52 ) sheathed on the washing axle ( 51 ) and a gear reduction mechanism, wherein the washing axle ( 51 ) is coaxially mounted inside a motor rotor ( 23 ) of the electric motor and is fixed to an output gear ( 332 ) of the gear reduction mechanism, and an input gear shaft ( 31 ) of the gear reduction mechanism is inserted inside a shaft hole of the motor rotor ( 23 ). Since the input gear shaft ( 31 ) of the gear reduction mechanism is inserted inside the shaft hole of the motor rotor ( 23 ), the motor rotor acts as the gear carrier of the gear reduction mechanism, effectively combining the gear reduction mechanism and the electric motor in one, thereby reducing the axial size of the washing machine driver, making the structure of the washing machine driver simple and compact so as to occupy a small space. Furthermore, since the transmission ratio of the gear reduction mechanism has a large range, a large reduction ratio output can be achieved.

This application claims the benefit of priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201210165853.1 titled “WASHING MACHINE DRIVER”, filed with the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office on May 24, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the technical field of drivers, and particularly to a driver for a washing machine.

BACKGROUND

A washing machine is a common home appliance in daily life, and has two main operation conditions, which are a washing condition and a spinning condition.

A conventional driving unit of an existing washing machine mainly consists of an electric motor and a speed reduction clutch mechanism. A common electric motor has a high rotating speed, and in order to obtain a suitable rotating speed for the washing condition, the rotating speed transmitted from the electric motor to the speed reduction clutch is reduced by a primary pulley. Common speed reduction clutch mechanisms mainly include a single-stage planetary reduction clutch mechanism, a pulley-type reduction clutch mechanism, and an electric motor direct-driven clutch mechanism. However, the single-stage planetary reduction clutch mechanism cannot output speed at a large reduction ratio, which reduces the washing efficiency, and imposes a high requirement on the electric motor, thus the cost is increased. When a multi-stage planetary reduction is employed, the cost is increased, and the mechanism becomes complex, incompact, and unstable. The pulley-type reduction clutch mechanism has a high cost and inaccurate belt transmission ratio, and the belt has a short life, which also reduces the washing efficiency. Further, a driver consisting of the electric motor and the speed reduction clutch mechanism has a large axial dimension, and an incompact structure.

Another speed reduction clutch in the conventional technology uses a direct-driven electric motor instead of the original general indirect-driven electric motor. However, most of this kind of drive motors are brushless DC motors, and a control unit is required to realize rotation control and other functions, the control unit has a high cost, and this kind of drivers have a large axial dimension, thus are not suitable for long-term development.

Therefore, a technical problem to be solved currently by those skilled in the art is to design a washing machine driver which has a small axial dimension and a compact structure, and is space saving.

SUMMARY

An object of the present application is to provide a washing machine driver, which has a small axial dimension and a compact structure, and is space saving.

To address the above technical issues, a washing machine driver is provided according to the present application, which includes an electric motor, a wash shaft, a spin tube sleeved on the wash shaft, and a gear reduction mechanism, the wash shaft is coaxially mounted in a motor rotor of the electric motor and is fixedly connected to an output gear of the gear reduction mechanism, and the gear reduction mechanism includes an input gear shaft inserted in a shaft hole of the motor rotor.

Preferably, the gear reduction mechanism includes a first gear, a second gear, an intermediate gear and the output gear, the first gear and the second gear are fixedly installed at two ends of the input gear shaft respectively, the first gear engages with the intermediate gear, and the second gear engages with the output gear; and the intermediate gear is sleeved on the spin tube, and the output gear is fixedly connected to the wash shaft.

Preferably, the gear reduction mechanism includes a dual gear, an intermediate gear and the output gear, the dual gear is sleeved on the input gear shaft, and the intermediate gear and the output gear engage with a first stage gear and a second stage gear of the dual gear respectively; and the intermediate gear is sleeved on the spin tube, and the output gear is fixedly connected to the wash shaft.

Preferably, the intermediate gear is an external gear or an internal gear ring.

Preferably, the output gear is an external gear or an internal gear ring.

Preferably, the driver further includes a clutch device, and the clutch device is arranged between the spin tube and the motor rotor to realize a switching between a washing condition and a spinning condition.

Preferably, a clutch toothed disc of the clutch device is connected to the spin tube via a splined sleeve, and the clutch toothed disc engages with the splined sleeve and is axially slidably connected to the splined sleeve.

Preferably, in the washing condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with an upper end cover of the electric motor, and in the spinning condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with the motor rotor.

Preferably, in the washing condition, the clutch toothed disc is not fixed; and in the spinning condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with the motor rotor.

Preferably, the clutch device is an electromagnetic clutch device or a mechanical clutch device.

Compared to the background technology, the driver of the impeller type washing machine according to the present application includes an electric motor, a wash shaft, a spin tube sleeved on the wash shaft, and a gear reduction mechanism, the wash shaft is coaxially mounted in a motor rotor of the electric motor and is fixedly connected to an output gear of the gear reduction mechanism, and the gear reduction mechanism includes an input gear shaft inserted in a shaft hole of the motor rotor. The input gear shaft of the gear reduction mechanism is inserted in the shaft hole of the motor rotor, thus the motor rotor functions as a gear carrier of the gear reduction mechanism, which effectively integrates the gear reduction mechanism and the electric motor, and reduces the axial dimension of the washing machine driver, thus the washing machine driver has a simple and compact structure and is space saving. Furthermore, the gear reduction mechanism has a large range of transmission ratio, thereby achieving an output at a large reduction ratio.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a washing machine driver according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the washing machine driver in FIG. 1 taken along direction A-A;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the washing machine driver in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the transmission of the washing machine driver according to a first embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the transmission of the washing machine driver according to a second embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the transmission of the washing machine driver according to a third embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the transmission of the washing machine driver according to a fourth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the transmission of the washing machine driver according to a fifth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the transmission of the washing machine driver according to a sixth embodiment of the present application; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the transmission of the washing machine driver according to a seventh embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An object of the present application is to provide a washing machine driver, which has a small axial dimension and a compact structure, and is space saving.

For those skilled in the art to better understand technical solutions of the present application, the present application is described in detail in conjunction with drawings and embodiments hereinafter.

It is to be noted that, locality terms, such as upper and lower, involved herein are defined by the positions of parts and the position relationship of the parts in FIGS. 1 to 10, and are only intended to clearly and conveniently describe the technical solutions. It should be appreciated that, the locality terms herein should not limit the scope of the present application as claimed.

Reference is made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. 1 is a front view of a washing machine driver according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the washing machine driver in FIG. 1 taken along direction A-A; and FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the washing machine driver in FIG. 1.

In an embodiment, the washing machine driver according to the present application includes an electric motor. The electric motor includes a motor housing 21, a motor stator 22 and a motor rotor 23. The motor stator 22 is arranged inside the motor housing 21, the motor rotor 23 is coaxially arranged in the motor stator 22, and the motor rotor 23 is provided with a shaft hole. An upper end cover 24 and a lower end cover 25 are respectively provided above and below the electric motor. The motor housing 21, the motor stator 22, the upper end cover 24 and the lower end cover 25 may be fixedly connected by bolts.

The wash shaft 51 of the washing machine is coaxially mounted in the motor rotor 23, and a rotor oil-containing bearing 81 is provided between the wash shaft 51 and the motor rotor 23. The wash shaft 51 limits the motor rotor 23 in a radial direction, and a relative rotation between the wash shaft 51 and the motor rotor 23 is realized by the rotor oil-containing bearing 81.

A spin tube 52 of the washing machine is sleeved on the wash shaft 51, and a wash shaft oil-containing bearing 82 is provided between the spin tube 52 and the wash shaft 51, which realizes a relative rotation between the spin tube 52 and the wash shaft 51.

The washing machine driver further includes a gear reduction mechanism. The gear reduction mechanism includes an input gear shaft 31, a first gear 321, a second gear 322, an intermediate gear 331 and an output gear 332. The input gear shaft 31 is inserted in the shaft hole of the motor rotor 23, an oil-containing bearing is provided between the input gear shaft 31 and the motor rotor 23, and a relative rotation between the input gear shaft 31 and the motor rotor 23 is realized by the oil-containing bearing. The first gear 321 and the second gear 322 are fixedly installed at two ends of the input gear shaft 31 respectively. The first gear 321 engages with the intermediate gear 331, and the second gear 322 engages with the output gear 332.

The intermediate gear 331 is sleeved on the spin tube 52. The output gear 332 is fixedly connected to the washing wheel 51, and the fixed connection may be achieved by a straight pin 84. A distance ring 72 is provided between the wash shaft 51 and the output gear 332, plane bearings are respectively provided at two ends of the motor rotor 23, and an axial movement of the motor rotor 23 may be limited by the distance ring 72 and the plane bearings.

It is to be noted that, the motor rotor may be provided with multiple shaft holes, that is, multiple input gear shafts, and first gears and second gears which cooperate with the multiple input gear shafts may be inserted in the motor rotor. Due to the multiple input gear shafts, the combination of the electric motor and the gear reduction mechanism may operate more stable and has a prolonged working life.

A mounting plate 11 is fixedly provided above the upper end cover 24 of the electric motor, and the mounting plate 11 and the upper end cover 24 may be fixedly connected by bolts. The driver may be mounted in the washing machine via the mounting plate 11.

Reference is made to FIG. 4, which is a schematic view showing the transmission of an embodiment of the washing machine driver. In operation, after being energized, the electric motor drives the motor rotor 23 to rotate, and at the same time, drives the input gear shaft 31 connected to the motor rotor 23 and the first gear 321 and the second gear 322 fixedly connected to the input gear shaft 31 to orbit. Since the first gear 321 engages with the intermediate gear 331 and there is a difference between the numbers of teeth of the first gear 321 and the intermediate gear 331, the input gear shaft 31 is driven to rotate on its own axis. Since the second gear 322 engages with the output gear 332, the output gear 332 is driven to rotate, which further drives the wash shaft 51 fixedly connected to the output gear 332 to rotate. Since there is a relationship of difference of the numbers of teeth between the first gear 321, the second gear 322, the intermediate gear 331 and the output gear 332, a rotation speed difference will be generated between the output gear 332 and the motor rotor 23, thereby driving the wash shaft 51 to output at a low speed. Since the intermediate gear 331 is sleeved on the spin tube 52 and is in an unfixed state, the spin tube 52 also outputs at a low speed in a certain speed ratio while the wash shaft 51 outputs at a low speed. Therefore, in a washing condition, the electric motor may rotate at a high speed, and the wash shaft 51 may output at a low speed through the gear reduction mechanism, thereby increasing the use efficiency of the electric motor and also achieving a combined power output.

It is to be noted that, the wash shaft 51 and the spin tube 52 may both output at a low speed in the same rotational direction or output in reverse rotational directions. Whether the rotational directions of the wash shaft 51 and the spin tube 52 are the same or opposite, is depending on whether the value of the tooth number difference ratio of the gear reduction mechanism is positive or negative. In practical application, the relationship of the tooth number differences of the gear reduction mechanism may be determined as desired.

It is to be noted that, in this embodiment, the intermediate gear 331 and the output gear 332 are both internal gear rings.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, in a second embodiment, the gear reduction mechanism includes a dual gear 32, an intermediate gear 331 and an output gear 332. The dual gear 32 is sleeved on an input gear shaft 31′, and the intermediate gear 331 and the output gear 332 respectively engage with a first stage gear 321 and a second stage gear 322 of the dual gear 32. The intermediate gear 331 is sleeved on the spin tube 52, and the output gear 332 is fixedly connected to the wash shaft 51. The intermediate gear 331 and the output gear 332 are both external gear rings.

In the second embodiment, the input gear shaft 31′ is fixedly connected to the motor rotor 23, and the dual gear 32 and the input gear shaft 31′ may rotate with respect to each other. When the motor rotor 23 is driven to rotate, the dual gear 32 is driven to orbit and rotate on its own axis at the same time, and the low speed output of the wash shaft 51 may also be achieved due to the relationship of tooth number differences between the first stage gear 321 of the dual gear 32, the second stage gear 322 of the dual gear 32, the intermediate gear 331 and the output gear 332.

Certainly, the low speed output of the wash shaft 51 may also be achieved by rotatably connecting the input gear shaft 31′ to the motor rotor 23 and fixedly connecting the dual gear 32 to the input gear shaft 31′.

In the second embodiment or in the first embodiment, the intermediate gear 331 may be an external gear, or an internal gear ring, and the output gear 332 may be an external gear, or an internal gear ring, thus the gear reduction mechanism may have the following several different embodiments.

It is to be noted that, in various embodiments, structures or members having the same function or equivalent functions are indicated with the same reference numbers in the drawings.

Reference is made to FIG. 6, in a third embodiment, the input gear shaft 31 is rotatably inserted in the motor rotor 23, and the first gear 321 and the second gear 322 are fixedly installed at two ends of the input gear shaft 31. The intermediate gear 331 and the output gear 332 are both external gears.

Reference is made to FIG. 7, in a fourth embodiment, the input gear shaft 31 is rotatably inserted in the motor rotor 23, and the first gear 321 and the second gear 322 are fixedly installed at two ends of the input gear shaft 31. The intermediate gear 331 is an internal gear ring, and the output gear 332 is an external gear.

Reference is made to FIG. 8, in a fifth embodiment, the input gear shaft 31 is rotatably inserted in the motor rotor 23, and the first gear 321 and the second gear 322 are fixedly installed at two ends of the input gear shaft 31. The intermediate gear 331 is an external gear, and the output gear 332 is an internal gear ring.

Reference is made to FIG. 9, in a sixth embodiment, the input gear shaft 31′ is fixedly connected to the motor rotor 23, the dual gear 32 and the input gear shaft 31′ may rotate with respect to each other, and the intermediate gear 331 and the output gear 332 engage with the first stage gear 321 and the second stage gear 322 of the dual gear 32 respectively. The intermediate gear 331 is an internal gear ring, and the output gear 332 is an external gear.

Since the two stages of gears of the dual gear 32 have different tooth numbers, according to a seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a first stage gear 321′ of the dual gear 32 may engage with the output gear 332, and a second stage gear 322′ may engage with the intermediate gear 331. The intermediate gear 331 is still an internal gear ring, and the output gear 332 is still an external gear.

The principle of transmission of the several embodiments described above in operation are the same as that of the first embodiment, thus will not be described herein.

It is to be noted that, in addition to the above several embodiments, the gear reduction mechanism may have other embodiments, as long as the differential reduction can be achieved and the output mechanism and the motor rotor may produce rotational speed difference.

A further improvement may be made to the above washing machine driver.

The washing machine driver may further include a clutch device 4. The clutch device is arranged between the spin tube 52 and the motor rotor 23, which may realize the switching between the washing condition and the spinning condition.

The clutch device 4 may be an electromagnetic clutch device, or a mechanical clutch device. The electromagnetic clutch device is described as an example hereinafter.

The electromagnetic clutch device includes a clutch cover plate 41, a clutch fixing plate 42, a clutch toothed disc 43 and a coil holder 44. The coil holder 44 is located in an annular groove of the clutch fixing plate 42, the clutch cover plate 41 is arranged above the coil holder 44, and the clutch toothed disc 43 is located in an inner ring of the clutch fixing plate 42. The clutch cover plate 41, the clutch fixing plate 42 and the coil holder 44 are connected together first and then are fixedly connected to the upper end cover 24, and the fixedly connection may be achieved by bolts. A pressure spring 45 may be further provided above the clutch toothed disc 43.

The clutch toothed disc 43 is sleeved on the spin tube 52 via a splined sleeve 71, and the clutch toothed disc 43 engages with the splined sleeve 71 and is axially slidably connected to the splined sleeve 71. It is to be noted that, the clutch toothed disc 43 and the splined sleeve 71 are engaged constantly in any operating conditions, and cannot rotate with respective to each other. The clutch toothed disc 43 and the splined sleeve 71 are located at an upper end of a first internal gear ring 331.

When the electromagnetic clutch device is energized to generate magnetic field, the clutch toothed disc 43 may slide upwards in an axial direction along external splines of the splined sleeve 71 against the spring force of the pressure spring 45, which disengages the clutch toothed disc 43 from the motor rotor 23. At this time, when the electric motor is energized, the low speed output of the wash shaft 51 may be achieved through the gear reduction mechanism, thereby realizing the washing function.

It is to be noted that, a common output and a combined power output may be realized by changing the fixing manner of the clutch device 4.

When the clutch toothed disc 43 is disengaged from the motor rotor 23, the clutch toothed disc 43 is allowed to be engaged with the upper end cover 24, and at this time, the spin tube 52 connected to the clutch toothed disc 43 is in a fixed state, thus in the washing condition, only the wash shaft 51 outputs at a low speed, which is a normal washing output. When the clutch toothed disc 43 is disengaged from the motor rotor 23 and is unfixed, the wash shaft 51 outputs at a low speed, and the spin tube 52 also outputs at a low speed in a certain speed ratio, thereby realizing the combined power output. The meaning of the clutch toothed disc 43 being unfixed is that the clutch toothed disc 43 is not engaged with any components which are in a fixed state, i.e. the spin tube 52 connected to the clutch toothed disc 43 is also in an unfixed state.

When the electromagnetic clutch device is de-energized, the magnetic field disappears, and under the spring force of the pressure spring 45, the clutch toothed disc 43 slides downwards in the axial direction along the external splines of the splined sleeve 71, which allows the clutch toothed disc 43 to be engaged with the motor rotor 23. Since the clutch toothed disc 43 and the splined sleeve 71 cannot rotate with respect to each other, the spin tube 52 connected to the splined sleeve 71 and the intermediate gear 331 sleeved on the spin tube 52 are locked with respect to the motor rotor 23, which results in a self-locking of the gear reduction mechanism. Thus, the motor rotor 23 and the wash shaft 51 rotate at the same speed, thereby achieving the spinning function.

It is to be noted that, the clutch device may also achieve the switching between the washing condition and the spinning condition by driving other transmission parts of the gear reduction mechanism to be engaged with or disengaged from the motor rotor. In the common washing output of the washing condition, the clutch toothed disc of the clutch device may also be engaged with other fixed parts of the electric motor. There are many arrangements of the clutch device, as long as the switching between the washing condition and the spinning condition of the washing machine may be realized.

In the spinning condition, the spin tube 52 is required to bear the weight of the clothes to be washed, thus in order to limit an axial movement of the spin tube 52, a plane bearing, a flat gasket and an elastic retaining ring may be provided between the spin tube 52 and the intermediate gear 331 to limit the movement of the spin tube 52 in an axial direction thereof.

To allow the wash shaft 51 and the spin tube 52 to rotate more stably in the spinning condition, a first bearing 831 is provided between the spin tube 52 and the mounting plate 11, and a second bearing 832 is provided between the output gear 332 and the lower end cover 25.

Further, a first water seal member 61 is provided between the wash shaft 51 and the spin tube 52, and a second water seal member 62 is provided between the spin tube 52 and the mounting plate 11, so as to prevent the washing water from entering the interior of the driver during the operation of the washing machine.

A washing machine driver according to the present application is described in detail hereinbefore. The principle and the embodiments of the present application are illustrated herein by specific examples. The above description of examples is only intended to help the understanding of the method and the spirit of the present application. It should be noted that, for the person skilled in the art, a few of modifications and improvements may be made to the present application without departing from the principle of the present application, and these modifications and improvements are also deemed to fall into the scope of the present application defined by the claims. 

1. A washing machine driver, comprising an electric motor, a wash shaft, a spin tube sleeved on the wash shaft, and a gear reduction mechanism, wherein, the wash shaft is coaxially mounted in a motor rotor of the electric motor and is fixedly connected to an output gear of the gear reduction mechanism, and the gear reduction mechanism comprises an input gear shaft inserted in a shaft hole of the motor rotor.
 2. The washing machine driver according to claim 1, wherein the gear reduction mechanism comprises a first gear, a second gear, an intermediate gear and the output gear; the first gear and the second gear are fixedly installed at two ends of the input gear shaft respectively, the first gear engages with the intermediate gear, and the second gear engages with the output gear; and the intermediate gear is sleeved on the spin tube, and the output gear is fixedly connected to the wash shaft.
 3. The washing machine driver according to claim 1, wherein the gear reduction mechanism comprises a dual gear, an intermediate gear and the output gear; the dual gear is sleeved on the input gear shaft, and the intermediate gear and the output gear engage with a first stage gear and a second stage gear of the dual gear respectively; and the intermediate gear is sleeved on the spin tube, and the output gear is fixedly connected to the wash shaft.
 4. The washing machine driver according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate gear is an external gear or an internal gear ring.
 5. The washing machine driver according to claim 2, wherein the output gear is an external gear or an internal gear ring.
 6. The washing machine driver according to claim 1, wherein the driver further comprises a clutch device, and the clutch device is arranged between the spin tube and the motor rotor to realize a switching between a washing condition and a spinning condition.
 7. The washing machine driver according to claim 6, wherein a clutch toothed disc of the clutch device is connected to the spin tube via a splined sleeve, and the clutch toothed disc engages with the splined sleeve and is axially slidably connected to the splined sleeve.
 8. The washing machine driver according to claim 7, wherein in the washing condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with an upper end cover of the electric motor; and in the spinning condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with the motor rotor.
 9. The washing machine driver according to claim 7, wherein in the washing condition, the clutch toothed disc is not fixed; and in the spinning condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with the motor rotor.
 10. The washing machine driver according to claim 6, wherein the clutch device is an electromagnetic clutch device or a mechanical clutch device.
 11. The washing machine driver according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate gear is an external gear or an internal gear ring.
 12. The washing machine driver according to claim 3, wherein the output gear is an external gear or an internal gear ring.
 13. The washing machine driver according to claim 2, wherein the driver further comprises a clutch device, and the clutch device is arranged between the spin tube and the motor rotor to realize a switching between a washing condition and a spinning condition.
 14. The washing machine driver according to claim 13, wherein a clutch toothed disc of the clutch device is connected to the spin tube via a splined sleeve, and the clutch toothed disc engages with the splined sleeve and is axially slidably connected to the splined sleeve.
 15. The washing machine driver according to claim 14, wherein in the washing condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with an upper end cover of the electric motor; and in the spinning condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with the motor rotor.
 16. The washing machine driver according to claim 14, wherein in the washing condition, the clutch toothed disc is not fixed; and in the spinning condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with the motor rotor.
 17. The washing machine driver according to claim 3, wherein the driver further comprises a clutch device, and the clutch device is arranged between the spin tube and the motor rotor to realize a switching between a washing condition and a spinning condition.
 18. The washing machine driver according to claim 17, wherein a clutch toothed disc of the clutch device is connected to the spin tube via a splined sleeve, and the clutch toothed disc engages with the splined sleeve and is axially slidably connected to the splined sleeve.
 19. The washing machine driver according to claim 18, wherein in the washing condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with an upper end cover of the electric motor; and in the spinning condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with the motor rotor.
 20. The washing machine driver according to claim 18, wherein in the washing condition, the clutch toothed disc is not fixed; and in the spinning condition, the clutch toothed disc is engaged with the motor rotor. 